Características epidemiológicas e pesquisa de hemoparasitos transmitidos por artrópodes em cães da zona rural do município de Porto Grande, estado do Amapá

Abstract

Canine vector-borne diseases are of great relevance to veterinary medicine and public health, being caused by pathogenic microorganisms transmitted mainly by arthropod vectors, such as the tick species Rhipicephalus linnaei. In tropical and subtropical regions, such as the state of Amapá, the occurrence of these diseases is favored by climatic conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of the hemoparasites Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Babesia canis vogeli, Leishmania spp., and Trypanosoma spp. in dogs from the rural area of the municipality of Porto Grande, state of Amapá, as well as to characterize the epidemiological factors associated with the infection. The study was conducted in the rural zone of Porto Grande, at the Matapi Agricultural Colony, where samples were collected from 26 randomly selected dogs. The search for the agents was performed through the analysis of peripheral blood smears stained with the Giemsa technique. The epidemiological evaluation was conducted based on questionnaires applied to the owners and the observation of environmental conditions. The results revealed a low prevalence of hemoparasites, with an overall prevalence of 11.53% (3/26), comprising 7.69% (2/26) for Anaplasma platys and 3.84% (1/26) for Ehrlichia canis. Babesia canis vogeli, Leishmania spp., and Trypanosoma spp. were not detected. However, the epidemiological analysis revealed the presence of relevant risk factors, such as tick infestation (Rhipicephalus linnaei and Amblyomma ovale), dogs' access to forested areas, and the accumulation of organic matter in the peridomicile. It is concluded that, despite the low observed prevalence, possibly associated with the limited sensitivity of the blood smear method, the epidemiological and environmental conditions of the studied area indicate a persistent risk of infection, reinforcing the need for continuous surveillance and vector control in the region.